Indonesian Parliament Approves Patrol Boats Grant from Japan

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The 14th Plenary Meeting of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) officially approved a defense and security equipment grant from the Government of Japan on Thursday, February 19, 2026. The grant consists of 18M-Class Patrol Boats for the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL).

“Can the report of Commission I of the DPR RI on the approval of the acceptance of the 18M-Class Patrol Boat grant from the Japanese Government be approved?” asked DPR Speaker Puan Maharani, followed by a unanimous “agreed” from members of parliament in Senayan, Jakarta, as quoted by Antara.

Deputy Speaker of Commission I, Dave Laksono, explained that the approval followed a closed-door working meeting on February 10, 2026, with the Ministry of Defense, the Commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI), the Chiefs of Staff, and the Ministry of Finance. The meeting was held to follow up on a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Defense in November 2025.

The grant, valued at 1.9 billion yen, is provided through Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) scheme, which supports defense equipment and infrastructure for partner countries. “Commission I of the DPR RI hopes that today’s plenary meeting can provide approval for the results of the discussion to be followed up according to applicable legal mechanisms,” Dave said.

Deputy Defense Minister Donny Ermawan confirmed that both the government and the legislature agreed to accept the grant after considering various aspects. “Essentially, the government and the DPR agree to accept the grant from the Japanese government,” he said during a press briefing after the commission meeting.

The 18M-Class patrol boats are designed for coastal surveillance and will provide the Navy with additional flexibility for rapid response in Indonesia’s archipelagic waters. ***